National Republican., 1887-10-29
NInfrnnoliian Church
Washington Letter In Northern Christian
VOcate. Oct. 27

Washington Letter In Northern Christian Ad.
vocate, Oct 81
"Cleanliness" next to "godliness" was
normal thought in the Juvenile home of the
Wesleys, which "thing Of beauty" the great
reformer scrupulously carried through all
his vouminous writings and teaching. 1t
would be marvel, then, II SO radical an
idea did not enter into the woof and warp
of the whole fabric of Methodlsm. Apropos,
Just upon the eve of DR.. Newman's respite of
few weeks from excessive pulpit and pas
toral labor, and following most searching
sermon on the text "Whose fan Is In his
hHnd,h &c, our great congregation was
eXhorted to enter upon radical overhaul
ing and beautifyiDg of our church cdilce-
for the first time in our organic life, except,
of course the annual orthodox sweeping
and garnishng. This has been entered
upon, like all successful church work, with
prayer and pelf at q cost of some 81 800. Our
pastor leads. This work IA also being done
in grateful remembrance Of the thousands,
living and dead, from every state and ter
ritory In the Urion--likewise from Canada,
Mexico, Europe, and the regions beyond
whoso liberal contributions have gone into
the erection OF this "national memorial
churchn
1t may not be remembered by all that the
primary cost of this church was only q lit.
tie lees than quarter of million. lts
exterior is of brown stone and 1t covers an
area Of 15x1l5 feet. IL has tower and
spire rising some $50 feet above the pave.
ment. Its design IL gothic with ample
galleries. The pulpit is at the rear end OF
the spacious audience room, in a slight al.
cove chastely frescoed. On either side Is a
panel. On one Of the panels is subscribed
the ten commandments and on the other
the LORDS Prayer; spanning the intermefi
ate space is an arch with key Stone"
carved out OF a relic brought from Solo
mons temple, aud bearing tue inscription
In Hebrew characters, "Jehovah J!rah. -
The. front Of the pulpit is constructed OF
black walnut, cedar from Lebanon, olive
wood from the Mount Of Olives and the
garden Of Getbsemane; chaste and beeutl.
lul. On the m9in floor are l3S pews and In
the galleries about forty. There ere six.
teen memorial windows or tablets COM
memcrative of characters and incidents
promiDent In the annals of the Methodist
| Episcopal Church. These tablets are
ciiaste, beautiful, and expensive. In
| 1863 Samuel Norment, esq -, one Of the
| board Of trustees, formally rendered to
| President u. s. Grant the pew assigned to
| the occupant of the white house, to which
| at present distinguished visitors are shown
| by the ushers. Query: Now that the future
| seems so pregnant with great issues, may
we not hope that the body polite will bring
ipi'n i'Silihapc ncii w tnls WaiViue peW
By the way, our Metropolitan pulpit was
recently bonored by the presence and
| preaching of the distinguished DR.. Burchard,
| of New York, whose remarkable speech was
80 inverted aud falsifed by those at whose
| execrable craft that shaft was aimed. DR..
Burchard is venerable gentleman Of the
sold School," fullyin line and abreast with
the most advanced thinkers and exponents
| Of biblical theology. AS u preacher he IL
| logical, evangelical, and effective, and very
many devout dwellers In this great national
| center are anxious to hear him again.
1t gives us pleasure TO announce to the
| public that our rejuvenated and bt autiful
church Il reOpened for divine service, aud
that DR.. j. p. Newman Is again in his pull
| pit, and is now delivering well advised
| course Of lectures to the discomfort of inf
| deity, and to the glory OF Christianity aud
| its divine Author. w. NJ. FERGUSON.